New York. The New Israel Fund is proud to be marching in the 2012 Celebrate Israel Parade in New York on Sunday, June 3rd as part of a progressive cluster including Ameinu, Americans for Peace Now, B’Tselem USA, Partners for Progressive Israel, and Rabbis for Human Rights-North America.

NIF finds it particularly appropriate to march in celebration of Israel’s “roots of justice, branches of peace” as expressed in its Declaration of Independence. Our cluster represents those who love Israel and celebrate its essential founding principles of democracy, justice, civil and human rights, freedom and peace. We march in solidarity with those segments of Israeli civil society working to protect and advance these values, as well as with the thousands of Israelis who inspired us last summer by taking to the streets and demanding social justice.

We also congratulate the Jewish Community Relations Council and the UJA-Federation of New York for holding fast to the vision of a parade where Jews of varied political and religious perspectives come together to celebrate Israel, each in our own way and with our own contribution to Israel’s future.

“The values and vision of the New Israel Fund and our parade partners are more and more visible and popular in the American Jewish community,” said NIF CEO Daniel Sokatch. “Thousands of Americans have joined us in the last few years, inspired by the hundreds of social change organizations and thousands of activists we support in Israel.”

“As Israel continues to confront increasing challenges to democracy, to social justice and to the rule of law, our Israeli colleagues and partners are encouraged by the fact that our support base in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Switzerland and Australia continues to expand.”

In response to our participation in the parade, some individuals have circulated misleading information about our beliefs and policies, including falsely alleging that NIF supports global BDS, and have insinuated that our work for a more just Israel is outside the parameters of the pro-Israel community. As progressives representing a broad segment of the American Jewish community, as well as our colleagues and sister organizations in Israel, we strongly support Israel as the Jewish homeland and reject efforts to question its fundamental right to exist. For more information on specific organizations, contact the organizational representatives listed below or visit www.nif.org and the other organizational websites.